Lady Grizzlies fall to Mustangs

Sunnyside's Talia Spini puts one up over the top of a Prosser player during Tuesday night's game against the Mustangs. The game ended with a 46-42 defeat for the Lady Grizzlies.

PROSSER - Sunnyside had a tough night Tuesday, losing what ended up being a close match to local rival Prosser.

The Lady Grizzlies were able to get off to a good start, finishing the first quarter just one point behind Prosser. But in the end, the Mustangs pulled out a 46-42 victory over the Sunnyside girls basketball team.

Sunnyside Coach Leo Gomez said his team started off strong, but then faced a lapse in the second quarter.

"In the second quarter we couldn't hit our shots," Gomez said. The halftime score showed the Lady Grizzlies down 26-17.

But the Sunnyside team came back from intermission with newfound strength. Gomez said in the third quarter the girls took the ball back, made their shots and rallied back to within two points of the Mustangs.

"We got back in the game," Gomez said.

Things looked good for Sunnyside as it continued to push past Prosser in the top of the fourth quarter, even working to tie the score at one point.

But it wasn't enough. Gomez said his team had a chance at one point during the fourth quarter to take the lead, but instead they handed the ball right back to Prosser.

"We gave Prosser the opportunity to come back," said the coach.

Gomez said it's the mental things his girls have to work on, adding that he knows he has a good team.

He added that Sunnyside's performance in the third quarter was probably the team's best defensive effort this season.